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Diamond or even Platinum players may want to skip reading this, as they probably already have decent macro. But if you want to show us newbies how it's done, read ahead anyway.
As probably the majority of my fellow low-level gold players, my macro is horrid. Either I let the money rise sky-high, or I don't take an opportunity to safely expand and run out of minerals. I also like to watch Day9 (who doesn't?) and he always tells his audience to work at one thing at a time.
So, to improve my (and hopefully your) macro, I propose a challenge:
- Choose your race.
- Fire up a game where you are undisturbed by any player or AI (a build order tester of your choice, or maybe an AI match without adding an AI).
- Build up your economy and crank out units.
- Don't stop until your supply reads "200/200".
- Take a screenshot of your result and a visible timer (for the timer you need to use a build order tester) and post it here. A group photo of your humongous unit ball of death is appreciated. It may also be helpful to post your current league.
Note: xorpwnz's YABOT now has a feature to automatically end the round when 200 supply has been reached.
I will try and update this thread and keep the "scoreboard" up-to-date.
A few remarks:
- Bonus points if your other resources (gas and minerals) are below 500 each.
- The fastest way to reach the supply cap is probably to build only workers, HQs and supply providers. But I think everyone agrees that this wouldn't be a very productive exercise.
- However, you may of course choose any unit composition to reach the goal. Seriously, as long as it can shoot down air units, a big army should steamroll any opponent without comparable macro.
- You may expand however much you like. This isn't meant to be a realistic simulation, it should only serve to raise your awareness of your income and spending.
- Use any map you like.
- Due to the lack of proper rules and a general infeasability of enforcing these non-existant rules, this isn't a real competition. The scoreboard is only for orientation on what is possible.
Scoreboard: + Show Spoiler +
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I'll make the start:
Yes, I am pathetic. Now go and beat me.
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To be honest, if you're completely undisturbed, you don't need any form of multitasking, you can expand whenever you want etc. So even a 1-handed newbie could get a score similiar to your / mine / anyone else's. My opinion.
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17 min!! im sure i can do this under 15min with zergz i'll try when i get back from work
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Heh, I've actually wondered about this before, it sounds pretty fun.
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You could probably cap out massing Roaches in about 10 minutes.
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Sounds like good practice for FFAs
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On August 14 2010 03:48 Argoneus wrote: To be honest, if you're completely undisturbed, you don't need any form of multitasking
Sure you do. You need to constantly make probes, watch your supply count so you don't get blocked, make sure that you have enough production capacity to actually use your income and some more things. I would call this multitasking. Of course, once you go into a real fight, there are many more things to do, but I wouldn't dismiss this here as "easy" (at least not for new players).
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I've always been interested in something like this -like when to stop taking expansions and to start producing units that take up more supply -say the cheapest units that take 2 supply.
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On August 14 2010 04:00 Nimbal wrote:Show nested quote +On August 14 2010 03:48 Argoneus wrote: To be honest, if you're completely undisturbed, you don't need any form of multitasking Sure you do. You need to constantly make probes, watch your supply count so you don't get blocked, make sure that you have enough production capacity to actually use your income and some more things.
I actually don't really think about making SCVs, its automatic, and about the supply, if you focus only on your top right screen, it's not hard to manage.
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Besides the fact that you are undsiturbed by another player harrassing you this seems like a good way to practice getting what units you want in an effecient manor. I like
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certainly not the fastest but atleast its out there ;D
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That was kinda fun.
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Calgary25939 Posts
For everyone saying it's simple: That's what people said about Brood War but there were techniques developed later that people didn't think about to get high supply. It's not immediately evident which is the fastest way to max with each race... Plus I think there's a moderate degree of execution in this challenge.
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Also, this is an excellent way for a new player to learn how to macro. Sometimes, just going through the rotation of just pumping out units is helpful for developing some muscle memory for actual games. This is actually how I was initially taught when i started playing "competitive".
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I was going to say that playing against a non-lethal or aggresive opponent is easy and won't help your macro. But on second thought, doing it against a TIMER will definitely help as it pressures you into finding a mix in economy and production. Cheers to you for this idea
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On August 14 2010 04:50 [Agony]x90 wrote: Also, this is an excellent way for a new player to learn how to macro. Sometimes, just going through the rotation of just pumping out units is helpful for developing some muscle memory for actual games. This is actually how I was initially taught when i started playing "competitive".
While you may say this, I could get 200 supply in roughly 20 minutes, normally in 20 minutes I have like 80 supply..
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On August 14 2010 05:16 Argoneus wrote:Show nested quote +On August 14 2010 04:50 [Agony]x90 wrote: Also, this is an excellent way for a new player to learn how to macro. Sometimes, just going through the rotation of just pumping out units is helpful for developing some muscle memory for actual games. This is actually how I was initially taught when i started playing "competitive". While you may say this, I could get 200 supply in roughly 20 minutes, normally in 20 minutes I have like 80 supply..
I meant muscle memory just for producing units. Because at some point in the game. You'll probably have to produce large amounts of units at once, even if its not the same time as if you were completely unhindered. Repetition does amazing things, even if it doesn't appear difficult to do :D.
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You also get a feel for how many unit producing structures you can support on 1, 2 or 3 bases. In the game I posted above, I had 15 gateways pumping just zealots on 3 bases. As I found out, that is about 3 too many if you keep making probes at all 3 nexuses.
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